Improvement in canceling and registering revenue-stamps



C'. F. MARTRANA..

Cancellng- Yand Regesterrng ARey/ennaS'tamps.

-N0 133,821.v Patented Dec.10,1872..

l l ff UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIcE'.

CHARLES EEDEEICI MAETOEANA, on WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0E COLUM- rBIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO ALBERT E, H. JOI-INSOI\T AND J. W.HAMILTON JOHNSON, OF SAME PLAGE.

l VIMPROVEMENT Ibi CANCELING ND RGISTERING REVENUE-STAMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 133,871, dated December10, 1872.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CHARLES FEDER-rc1 MARTORANA, of thecity ofWashington, in the District of Columbia, have, invented a new and usefulimprovement, being a Method of Canceling, Registering, and Detecting theOounterfeiting of Revenue-Stamps for distilled andfermented liquors,tobacco, cigars, snuE, -and any other similar packages subject tointernal-revenue tax, of which the following is i a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a view, in perspective,of a cigar-box embracing my slip-coupon, or registering and detectingslip, for canceling Stamps, as applied in factory; Fig. 2 represents asimilar view, showin g the mode of cancellation by the removal of onebranch of the slip-coupon or registering slip by manufacturer; Fig. 3represents a similar view, showin g the completion of the cancellationby the removal of the other branch of the slip-registering coupon by thedealer; and Fig. 4, the registering slip-coupon,fas.applied to thestamp.

My invention hasfor its 4object the cancellation'of revenue-stamps toprevent and detect frauds upon the revenue system; and the inventionwhich forms the subject-matter of this patent consists-fin theemployment of a slip of plain paper or parchment ap lied to the stamp ina manner to serve the several purposes in relation to the stamp and thething stamped-fof, first, the partial cancellation by the manufacturer;second, the complete cancellation by thedealer; third, the registrationof both partial and complete cancellation by the detached coupon-slips;fourth, the detection by such registration-slips of the counterfeitingof said stamp; fifth, affording by these means proper and instantinformation and record to the internal-revenue officers of the dealingof thc manufacturer and dealer, as required by law.

The blank slip-coupon A is applied to the stamp B so as to cross thelatter, and is secured by the gummed surface of the stamp itself topresent a double slipor a coupon-slip having two blank branches G D,each made the' register of the date of its separation from 'the body ofthe stamp. In such Separation it is caused to bear a portion of the bodyof the stamp B at least equal in width to the body of the slip-coupon A,thus separating from the package a piece ofthe stamp,

My invention makes no change or expense in the revenue-stamp system nowin use, as the blank coupon-slip A is applied bythe manu,- facturer tothe under side of the stamp B, or betweeuthe article and the stamp. Thisblank slip-coupon is made by writing or marking on both parts thereof,to register the name of the manufacturer, his number, date of attachingstamp, and the revenue district, the same being also made upon thestamp, separate from the registering-slip, at the same -time or inconnection with it. The coupon-slip is not gummed to the article, butis' left free to be removed therefrom with a certain portion of thestamp which secures it. The separate parts O D 4of the slipcoupon areremoved by cuttingA the stamp with a knife in the direction of itslength above the slip-coupon, as shown at E inFig. 2. The. manufacturermay use any series of numbers he desires without interfering with thoseused by any other manufacturer. The couponslip isseparate from andapplied with the stamp, and the mode of making the cancellation isequally simple, consisting in writing, marking, or stamping upon the twoparts C D of the coupon slip the initials orv name of the manufacturer,the date, and any number he may select, and that of the revenue districtin whichhe is doing business. These he also writes upon any part of thestamp. He then cuts the stamp with a knife over the coupon-slip at E,and tears off one part thereof, to be sent to the proper revenueofficer, as shown in Fig. `2. The other part of the coupon is left to betorn olf by the retail dealer at the time of ope-nin g thepurchasedarticle, as shown compared to 'determine many things, among which alsomay be the amount of business in any particular article of themanufacturer and dealer, as the coupon-slips are themselves reg istersof all sales of the article made by the parties. ln this respect thecoupon-slipstamp system and mode herein described of usin g them f willabsolutely prevent all fraud, by being themselves detectives of fraudand their own accusers of clandestine dealing-in fact, a suspended swordover the heads bot-h of man ufaoturer and dealer, the fall of which isa1 ways apprehended in the perpetration of fraud.

The self-registering slips are also f the highest importance infurnishing positive evidence of counterfeiting the stamp itself, as eachregisterin g part,C D, has a part of the stamp past ed to it when tornoff, so that the two can be matched to shouT the character of the stamp,and, if found to be counterfeit, can be traced to the manufacturer ofthe article stamped by him. The returned coupon-slips can be kept 1nfiles together under each persons name, and thus form his accounts withthe bureau.

By my invention the use of stamps a second time is impossible, because awhole piece having been taken out of them by the registering coupon-slipwilLshoW at once the mutilation. The coupon-slip may be applied to thestamp in any suitable manner so long as it is made to perform thefunctions designed.

By my invention it is impossible to use the same article a second timewith the same stamp or to exchange packages for the purpose of fraud.

I'have stated that the lmanufacturer may use any series of numbers hemay desire; but it is obvious that my invention does not depend in anydegree upon the use of numbers,

and they may be dispensed with if desired.

The same pitch which is used inpitching kegs may be used toV seal theholes and pre vent leakings to the injury of coupon and stamp. Y l

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. A stampfor the collection ofrevenue having a plain slip, whereby the following several things areeffected-first, the partial cancellation of the stamp by themanufacturer;

second, the entire cancellation by the dealer third, the registration ofboth partial and com plete cancellation; fourth, the detection of fraudsin counterfeiting; fifth, the use of the same numbers by differentmanufacturers, and to afford by such means information and record of thedealing of the manufacturer and dealer. v

. 2. A slip-coupon orregistering and detecting slip, canceled both bythe manufacturer and dealer.

3. The mode herein described'of canceling stamps to detect frauds insuch cancellation.

4. The mode herein described of detecting counterfeiting by separatingin parts a portion of the stamp with the registering-slips, forpreservation and examination.

5. The independent slip-coupon or register- ,A

ing-slip secured to the stamp, as described.

l 6. A revenue-stamp coupon-slip bearing upon its face the cancellationand register thereof of the manufacturer, and upon its obverse side thatof the dealer.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day ofSeptember, A. D. 1872.

CHARLES FEDERIGI MARTORANA.

'Vitnesses:

A. E. H. JOHNSON, J. W. HAMILTON JOHNSON.

